Avalanche warning extended

Current weather conditions are creating dangerous avalanche conditions according to the Flathead Avalanche Center, located in Hungry Horse.

The center issued a Backcountry Avalanche Alert Monday for Lake, Flathead and Lincoln counties. A warm, wet and windy storm swept through the area Monday and Tuesday, raising avalanche danger to high through Wednesday and into Thursday, as rain was expected to transition to snow.

The alert was issued for steep slopes at middle elevations in the Whitefish Range, Swan Range, Flathead Range, and parts of Glacier National Park, including John F. Stevens Canyon, the Apgar Range and Marias Pass area. The avalanche danger also extends south to Seeley Lake, and the Bitterroot, south of Missoula.

According to the warning, “rain on snow, heavy snow, and blowing snow could overload the snow surface and bury weak layers, resulting in widespread areas of unstable snow and natural avalanches” that could “run long distances and into mature forests, valley floors, or flat terrain.”

“Traveling in avalanched terrain will become increasingly dangerous,” according to avalanche forecasters.

For more information, visit flatheadavalanche.org or www.avalanche.org.